Many Are In No Mood To Celebrate

September 28, 2001|By Stella M. ChM-avez Staff Writer

It was supposed to be a time for celebration and recognition. Instead, many Hispanic organizations in Palm Beach County have chosen to spend Hispanic Heritage Month reflecting and praying about the recent tragic events in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

Several organizations have canceled or postponed festivities in the wake of the Sept. 11 attack.

"We can't be celebrating after what happened," said Angel Guerrero, owner of Montezuma's restaurant in West Palm Beach. "We didn't think it was right ... it was something that no one ever expected."

Guerrero's group, la Organizacion Mexicana Azteca, had planned a festival for Sept. 16 in Loxahatchee to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. But the group has rescheduled the event for Nov. 18 to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.

In addition to feeling sadness and anger, Guerrero said he worries about people unfairly targeting Hispanics or other minorities who are dark-skinned.

"It affects us because if there is already racism toward Hispanics, there's now going to be even more," he said.

A soccer tournament, scheduled for Sept. 15-16, is on hold for now, said Sylvia Baez, founder of the Nicaraguan Association of Palm Beach County.

Other organizations say they will continue with their plans so residents can feel a sense of normalcy.

"The truth is that what happened was a terrible disgrace, but we have to get back to normal," said Natalia Barres, a member of the Organizacion Cultural Semilla Boliviana, or Bolivian Cultural Seed Organization, in Palm Beach County.

Barres' group is planning an event filled with traditional Bolivian dances and foods at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Argentina Arts Organization, 6295 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth. Admission is $10. For more information, call 561-966-6247.

While the focus should be on Hispanic Heritage, Barres said the recent events remind everyone to stand together regardless of race or ethnicity.

"I love this country as much as my native country of Bolivia," Barres said. "Even though we are from different places, this helps unite us. This is a great opportunity to feel proud to be Hispanic and show support for our president."

The Club de Amigos Latinos de West Palm Beach is having a Gran Noche Bohemia Oct. 20, also at the Argentinean club. The event, scheduled from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., will consist of singing, dancing and traditional foods, said Julie Zurita, who is helping coordinate the event. For more information on this event, call 561-649-8077 or 561-868-0040.

Zurita, originally from Ecuador, said the event will celebrate Ecuador's independence but also the heritage of other Hispanics.

On Oct. 14, the Grupo Latino Folklorico and Hispanic Alliance is having a Hispanic-American parade along Lake Avenue and Bryant Park in Lake Worth. The parade will be from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by festivities throughout the afternoon.

Lillian Arce, president of the folkloric group, said the parade will include 23 organizations, each planning to display their flag.

"This is important because we have all made sacrifices coming to this country," Arce said. "There is a lot of ignorance about our people and this is a chance to show what we are all about."

Stella M. ChM-avez can be reached at schavez@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6602.